Page 37 of Be More Lucy

‘No, thanks,’ Lucy and Mark said in unison.

‘Jinx?’ Mark looked expectantly at Lucy.

She just scowled and muttered ‘child’ under her breath.

Mark sighed and looked at Em and Jack. ‘I will have that drink after all.’ He headed to the bar with Jack.

‘What’s he done now? I thought you said you were going to be civil to him if we bumped into him and Jack tonight?’ Em asked as she sat beside Lucy.

‘It’s more what he hasn’t done. We’ve been sitting here for at least ten minutes, and he’s made no attempt to say sorry for the way he behaved last year. Anyway, I thought you said it would just be the two of us tonight?’

‘There was a bit of a cock up with the venues. And I don’t think Mark knows what he’s meant to be apologising for.’

‘For cheating on me, of course.’

‘But he claims he didn’t.’

Lucy huffed.

‘Can we at least have a truce for this evening? Mark’s going back to Spain tomorrow morning. Jack doesn’t get to see him that often.’

Lucy sighed. ‘I’ll try.’

‘Do you hate everything I suggest on principle?’ Mark challenged Lucy, as the waitress cleared away their plates.

‘No. You just come up with ridiculous ideas that are a waste of breath.’

‘I don’t think it’s a ridiculous idea at all.’ Jack looked exasperated that hostilities had broken out again after half an hour of relative calm while they were eating. ‘Or it wouldn’t be if you two were speaking to one another.’

Mark had suggested having a combined stag and hen weekend. ‘Other couples do it. If we do separate ones, the stag do will just be me, Jack, Phil, Phil’s husband and two of Jack’s old uni friends, one of whom is a woman. We’re not going to be having a classic weekend of drunken debauchery with the local womenfolk.’

‘That must be a disappointment for you,’ Lucy said.

Mark looked like he was biting his tongue.

‘Aren’t you inviting your dad?’ Lucy asked Jack.

‘I don’t want him there. He made it perfectly obvious he was annoyed enough about making the trip from the Dordogne for our wedding.’ Jack got up and went to the bar.

‘Excuse me,’ Em said as she got up and followed him.

‘Are you ok?’ said Em.

‘I’m just tired. I like the idea of a combined celebration, but it’s not going to work with Lucy sniping at Mark all the time. Can’t you get her to talk to him about it? Clear the air?’

‘I’ll try, but it might be easier back home.’

‘Let’s settle up and go then.’

Jack drove them all back to Dashford Grange, Mark in the front passenger seat and Lucy in the back with Em, behaving as if Mark didn’t exist.

‘I’m exhausted,’ Lucy said to Em as she got out of the car. ‘I’ve had a long day with one thing and another.’ She glared at Mark, who had his back to her. ‘I’d like an early night,’

‘I’ll come with you.’ Em looked at Jack. ‘I’ll see you in a bit.’

‘Can you tell Mum I’ll be over later?’ Mark said, following Jack to the flat.

Em let Lucy into the main house. Nancy was in the kitchen.

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